7/06/2008 9:55:04 AM

I don't know whether any readers also use DragonDictate, but it's my new toy, and I am spending the weekend getting used to it and teaching it the sound of my accent!I actually saw this program used by one of my staff with such speed and accuracy that I couldn't resist.

However, today I'd really like to talk about the National mental health and disability employment strategy, a discussion paper for which was released some weeks ago, and submissions close on the 30th of June.

The previous government's strategy for assisting people who have mental illness to find work was actually fairly simple, if a little Darwinian in action! The most able were able to access support and be assisted; the least able simply were not.I note that the present government has a ‘social inclusion agenda’ - this is what they say:

The Rudd Government’s Social Inclusion Agenda includes a commitment to constructively address barriers that exclude Australians from community life. Participation in employment is a foundation of social inclusion as it creates opportunities for financial independence and personal fulfilment. Increasing participation in employment among people with disability and/or mental illness is essential to achieve social inclusion. A commitment to address the barriers to employment will also ensure that the rights of people with disability and/or mental illness to work, like other Australians, is realised.

-National Mental Health and Disability Employment Strategy Discussion Paper.This is scary, but these guys just might be serious! Here's a link if you would like to have your say: www.workplace.gov.au/workplace/Publications/PolicyReviews/EmploymentStrategy/Personally I think you should, there are still three weeks to go before submissions are due, and everyone's opinion is important.

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